Hitch for trailing vehicles.



E. MOWRY.

HITCH FOR TRAILING VEHICLES.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT-20.1913.

m V 06 mu 17% E. MOWRY.

HITCH FOR TRAILING VEHICLES.

APPLICATION man SEPT. 20. i913.

1,226,687. Patehted May 22, 1917 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- InvenZb-r: Edu/arcZ Moll/72y,

. T all u i/tom it niay cohcem: 3 'Be it known that I, EDWARD MownY, a-

i II fuili clear,

leased and er-Ares PATENT OFFICE,

enwm MownY, or STERLING, JELLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO rn'rnnnmronan nhnvns'rnn comrm or NEW mnsnr, A conroae'rron or new JERSEY. I

."Hrron Fon TRAIIIQINIG VEHICLES,

' citizen of the United States, residing at Ster ling, in'the county of \Vhiteside and State useful Improvements'i'n Hitches for Trailing Vehicles, of which the following is a and exact specification.

I y invention relates to hitches for trailin'g'vehicles.

It has among' its objects to attach and detach a trailing vehicle in animproved manner. 'Amore specific object of my in-;'

vention is to provide improved mechanism especlally adapted to use'm connection wlth wagon'to detach theloader' -from the same and support the loader-tongue in elevated position ready to be again attached. to the from .the load to release the same. I attain these objects bythe provisionv of improved "draftconnections comprising improved latching mechanism operable by the operator on the wagon to relezli the loader when desired, and improved a Qomatic means cooperating therewith swinging in under the tongue of the loader'when the latter is re- I maintaining the-same in elevated position. a

I In the accompanying drawings I have shown three embodimentswhich my invention'may assume in practice, illustrating the same in connection with a hay loader. It is tobe understood,--however,that these forms are shown hereinfor the purposes ofillusother forms. I I

' Figure 1 is aside elevation of'one of the 4 draft connections r I I Fig. .2 i's'an end elevation of thesame; Fig. Sisa side elevation of a' modified form of construction; and

Fig. 4 'is a. side elevationof a further modifiedform of-constructi'on.

In these drawings I have illustrated a hay "-tration and that my invention may assume loader tongue or draft member 1 trailing 1n the rear of a wagon-box 2, the draft tongue 1 being attached to the box 2 in an improved manner hereinafter described, and supported, when detached from that machine, by means of apivoted leg 3.-

' Referring first to'the construction shown in, Figs- 1 and 2,-it is to m nced that the Specification-of Letters lfa tent.

of Illinois, have mvented'certain new and.

. likewise of substantially U'shape and fitting over the lower, end of the. leg while the bolts 1 6 are adjustable-in a" plurality 'of'holes or leg.

hay loaders, which is operable from theg I wardly, which is connected to a fixed stop '5) carried on'the top of the tongue 1 through Wagon after the latter is unloaded, the operator-not being required to-c'limbdown the down position shown in F ig; 1.

the other to the pole 1.

a leg 3 pivoted thereto at a polnt adjacent I Patented May 22, 1917.- 2 Application filed September20, 1913. Serial at 730,942. 3 i

its front end; This leg is of substantially U-shapeIconstruction, .the two arms thereof being plvoted to the tongue ate at :their so I upper end andprovided at their lower end-.-

with anadjustable foot 5 which may be ad Q "jnsted vertically with respect. to the leg by means, of'suitable bolts 6, the foot being openings 7 formed in the bottom of said' with an extension 3 projecting-above the tongue 1 and protruding slightly rear- The upper end of this leg is provided which normally acts to swing the saline into The downward movement of the lower, 11

flexible connection or chain 11 attached at one end to the lower end of the leg and at To retain the lee end of this leg 3 is'limited by any suitable llmltlng means, suclnlfor example, as a 3 in its elevated position, shown in dotted lines in Fig 1, I have provided a pivoted latch 12 having. a hookedloWer end adaptdotted line posit on. 1 This latch is provided with a vertically projecting arm extending abovethetongue 1, operatively con nected through a chain or other suitable connecting means 13 with a latch bolt 14 longitudinally movable in a plane parallel.

to the tongue in bearings'15 formed in spaced upstanding arms 16 on a bracket 17 carried on the extreme front endfot the tongue and normally held in the position shown m Fig. 1; by means of a coiled v spring 18, which encircles the bolt or pin 14 in the operation thereof between the arms 16' and is attached to the bolt at 19.

Cooperating with-the bolt 14, and-@rece'ivried. on t e frame and p r b y a 'able. in aslot 20 formed in the bracket 17, is i 85 d'to engage'the lower U-shaped portion or y foot on the leg 8 when the latter is in its 7 through :1 depending bracket handle .26, a pawl and ratchet mechanism '27 being interposed between the sheave '23 and an extension 28 on one otthe arms 23 to position the ring in anydcsi'red vertical tion. Further, as shown.-. the chain which this ring is attached.

under side of the framei This bracket is shown to compr se a plurality of. substan- 'tially L-shaped frame members rigidly eon-,

nected to an adjustable bracket member Ill) by means of bolts 31. these bolts being adjustable in any one of a plurality of holes 32 formed in the vertical portions of the mem bers 29. 'As shown in FigsQl and '2, the

bracket is provided with'acentral bore 33 wagon and is not necessarily limited to use in connection with that just described.

In the operation of the construction shown,. a rope or other operating m'eansllfi the chain .13 thereto, and the free is attached to the upstanding arm on the latch 12 at a point above the connection of end ot this rope'is carried to any convenient position on the hay loader frame so'that the operator may reach-the same fromthc wagon when desired; in the dottedhne position shown in Fig. 1. a

pull upon this rope wouldv obviously turn the latch 12 about its pivot, releasing the leg 3 so that the spring 10, attached to thenpper end thereohwill cooperate withthe pull'0f lgravity in throwing the leg to its down or full ,liue positiolt At the'same time the angular movement of the arm 12 about its Ipivot automatically 13 to pull out the pin 14 from its connection with the ring 21' in such a manner that the tongue 1 is' freed from the frame 2, the ring 21 being-pulled out of the slot 20 upon a forward movement of the frame 2. noted in this connection that upon a release of the latch mechanism the leg 3 is positioned under the tongue 1 in such 'a manner as to support the same in elevated position at the 1 time that the latch is released Obviously, shouldthe operator desire to again connect the tongue to the fraineQ. as, for instance.-

after the first l'oadhas been taken off the wagon. this nniy be readily noted that the latch 12 acconiplisluwl by pin 14 and againrelcasing the ring .21 has been posi- Furlher, it is to bc acts automatically to catch the leg-3 in its elevated position. when pulling out the the sameat'ter 'tioncd in the slot 20.

the latter is raised n'ianually after the attachment of the loaderto the wagon. Ob-

cxtcnds down 29 fixed to the 'PIOVltltll. it being unnecessary ,the loader pole..

Assuming that the parts are acts'through the chain .a slotted portion 40 It is to be viously. if desired. the operator may adjust the height at which the tongue 1,issnpported with respe t to the frame 2 by an adJustment of the bolts 31 in the openings 3'2 on the supporting 2. and .he may which the tongue 1 bracket carried bythe frame also a'd'just the height at is supported with respect to the ground by means of adjusting the bolts 13 in the openings '7 in the foot. '.\t tcntion is further directed to the fact that by the provision-otthe windlass greater facility in attaching the loader to the wagon is to back the wagon into an exact relation to the loader. asthe chain. when removed from the windlass. can be attachedto the tongue, and the tongue can team repeatedly to bring the then be drawn into position by the windla \vilhinany desired radius;

In Fig. 3 I have shown a modified form of the construction shown in Fig. 1, wherein a leg 36 is pivoted similarly to the leg Il'heretofore described. but adapted. when released to swing toward the rear end of the tongue rather than toward the front end of the same. a more compact construction being provided. which is located nearer the end of It is to be'noted that in this construction the tongue is 0(1lll1)1)t(l.\\'llil1 a chain 37 similar to that heretofore described, preventing the. latter from swinging too far backward, and is provided with a hook- I shaped upper-end 3S which-is connected to connected to the rope l3, and in addition to cooperating \vitha draft ring 4t carried on the front frame 2. rts to hold the leg 36 in its el ated p iti n. a laterally extending foot 45 being providcdon the leg 36. having 41.. a suitable opening 49 being provided in the bra'cket RH between the lugs ll, so that the pin' isfree to movenot only through the I which is received be-' tween lugs or shoulders 47 on the end of thebracket ll. and positioned opposite the pm In Fig. 4 111 I 5 flied form of-'constri1;ction which closely-"re- :sembles' the construction f shown in Figs, -1

' have not illustrated any adjusting means for the ring. Obviously, such means, may. be

used if desired.

sataa" furthr modi-I and 3. In thisjcons'tructiona'leg49is ournaled at 50 a castingfilfcarried on the ex treme front end- "of lthe'pole" 1, and is pro 19 vided with ahookifi2fo n itsupper end which is.- adapted to inoveth'rougha idraft ring 53,.

carried on the frame 2," acoiled spring' 54- being attached tor-a suitable this end' 52 and having its tion. -Obviously, the operation of construction is similarto theoperation "of the constructions heretofore descr Fbed, the move iinent of the" latch 56", when, the rope. "is

pulled, releasing the leg 49 which, as it moves downward, automatically: releases its hooked end from the draft ring 52.;

While I have this applicationjdescribed several forms which "my invention, may assume, it is, of course, to be understood that the-forms shown for the purposesofillustration are susceptible of modif cation without departing fromthe spirit'of the inven? tion. j v

What Iyclaim-as my inventiomjanddesire to secureby Letters Patent, is:

I 1. In Combination, a plurality of trailing .units, and a 'draft tongue carried on-said trailing unit attached to the leading unit,

a normally operative support pivoted onsaid tongue and normally disposed-in substantially parallel relationv therewith during;

transport, and means for releasing said tongue from said "leading -unitand said from its elevated position inone op support "oration. '2. In a draft a support pivoted on saidtongue, and means normally attaching said tongueto said draft connection and supportin saidsupport in 5 a plane substantially para el to sa d tongue I operable from a remolteipoint'to release said tongue-and supp ort. I 3. In a draft. attachment,"a-draft tongue,

a support for said tongue, a bracket. carried on said tongue, a plunger reciprocably mounted in said bracket, a latch holding said support in elevated position, and. operative connections between said plunger and latch actuating one ofthe same upon actua atlon otthe other,

promotion.- on p "@5116 end at-- Q- i the-" o connection, in combination,

' a'pluralityofm'ovable units, a draft tongue -on one of the same, a draft connection on the 3 other thereof operatively connected thereto,

'5 a' supportpivoted thereon, resilient v means said support-in elevated position, and op-- erative connections-,"between' said plunger:

4. Ina, draft attachment, a dra'fi zptongue,

i as,

, normally tending to throw said support to I operative positionfa bracket carried on said tongue", aplunger reciprocably mounted in "said' bracket, releasable means-for holding and meansactuating-'one of the samejupon actuation of the other.*.."

11] 5. Ina draft attachment, a draft tongue," f a support pivoted thereon adjacent the end -;-of:th,e"same, resilient means connecting the a bracket carriedon the end .of saidftongue,

. one of the same upon actuation of the other.

plunger reciprocably .mounted in saidbracket, a latch'holding said support in ele 1 vated. position, arid;operative-connectionsbetween saidnplunger, and latch actuating pivotedend of'said support and said tong'ue,

6. In a" draft connection, in combination with a trailing unit, a draft tongue thereon,--

a vs ring-pressed supporting leg. for' said,

ton ue': pivoted vthereto, a latch member pivoted gto said tongue a point inter mediateritsends having one end thereofenthe same in inoperative position, .aleading unit, and releasable means for connecting the same-to! said tongue.

7 In-a draft connection, a tongue, a sup-; port pivoted thereon, resilient connections between said support and said tongue normally tending to maintain the former in operative position, a bracket carried-on the end of said tongue, a plunger slidable theregageable with said leg and normally holding in, a latch 'iretaining said support in ole vated posltion and said resihent conne'ctlons under tension,'andmeans operatively connected to said latch,and plunger'releasing' said "support and plunger substantially simultaneously.

. 8. In a draft connection,-

between said support and said tongue nora tongue, a sup port pivoted thereon,resilient connections mally maintaining the formerin operative pos1t1on,- a latchcarrled on sald tongue. en-

gaging said support when in its inoperative position, said latchhaving an. arm extending above said tongu e,"a bracketcarried on the end" of said tongue, a. spring-pressed plunger. reciprocable therein, operative connectionsbetween said plunger and the upstanding arm; on saidlatch, and means for I said arm to actuate said plunger oscillating and latch.

9. In a draft connection, in combination with almovable unit, a Windlass thereon, a

flexible draft member'wound on said windlass, a second movable unit, a draft connection thereon to which said flexible member is operatively connected, and means oper-' able from aremote' draft connection. v 10. In a draft connect on, in combination point I for releasing said with a movable unit, a draft mem'berthere- ,on',.means.for varying the operative height of the same, a trailing unit, a draft-memberthereon 'operatively connected to said first mentioned draft member, a support for saiddraft member, means for holdingsaid support in inoperative position, and means operable from a remote point'for releasing said draft members and said support.

11. In a draft connection, in combination avith a movable unit. a depending draft member thereon, means for varying the effective lengththereof. a trailing unit, a'

. draft tonguegthereon', releasable means for operatively connecting said draft tongue to saiddepending draft member, a' tonguesupport pivoted thereto, means for holding the same III noperative position, and means for releasing said releasable means and said holding means in a single operation.

12. In a draft connection, in combination with a movable unit, a wmdlas's thereon, a

flexible draft member wound on said Windlass. a second movable unit, a draft connecoperative supporting member for said draft.

tion thereon to which said flexibledraft member is operatively connected, .a normally connection carried thereon, means for holding the same in operative position, and' means operable from a remote pomt for.1'e-' leasing said draftconnection and supportin}: member.

13.11111 draft attachment, a; frame, a bracket carried beneath the same, a Windlass journaled' on the top 'of said frame, pawl and ratchet mechanism controlling the operation. of said Windlass, a chain carried on said \vindlass extending down through said bracket and guided thereby, and a draft -ring carried on the lower end of said chain 'hnnt'ed 1n 1ts upward movement by engagedown through the bore in said bracket member, and a draft ring; carried on the lower end of'sald cham.

15. In a draft connection. a vehicle frame,

a plurality of spaced bracket members at-' tached tothe under side thereof protruding downwardly substantially parallel to each other, a transversely disposed bracket member vertically adjustable with respect thereto bridging the space between the same and rigidly attached thereto. said transverse bracket member having a vertically extending bore therein. a chain protruding from said bore, a draft ring carried on the lower end of said chain, and means for varying the vertical position of said draft ring.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature, in the presence of two witnesses.

EDWARD MOWRY.

Witnesses C. A. Bnnonss, A. G. HUBBARD. 

